(19)
(11) EP 0 687 218 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
22.12.1999 Bulletin 1999/51

(21) Application number: 93909119.5

(22) Date of filing: 08.04.1993
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6B30B 9/30
(86) International application number:
PCT/SE9300/309
(87) International publication number:
WO 9321/007 (28.10.1993 Gazette 1993/26)

(54)

EQUIPMENT FOR COMPACTING TRASH INCLUDING A COMPACTING ROLLER

AUSRÜSTUNG DIE EINE PRESSROLLE ENTHÄLT ZUM ZUSAMMENPRESSEN VON ABFALL

INSTALLATION DE COMPACTAGE D'ORDURES POURVUE D'UN ROULEAU DE COMPACTAGE


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE

(30) Priority: 13.04.1992 SE 9201171

(43) Date of publication of application:
20.12.1995 Bulletin 1995/51

(73) Proprietor: Enviropac A/S
0283 Oslo (NO)

(72) Inventor:
  • HANSEN, Henry
    S-432 52 Varberg (SE)

(74) Representative: RACKETTE Partnerschaft Patentanwälte 
Kaiser-Joseph-Strasse 179
79098 Freiburg
79098 Freiburg (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
SE-B- 399 208
US-A- 4 524 685
US-A- 4 426 925
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement for a compacting plant for refuse and similar material, which comprises a drivable rotating roller for compacting the material inside a receiver vessel and capable of moving in an essentially horizontal direction about an essentially vertical shaft, preferably driven in a rotary fashion, which roller can be supported enabling it to be moved in a direction between the bottom of the vessel and its upper part.

    [0002] Such an arrangement is disclosed in US-A-4,524,685. The known arrangement for a compacting plant for refuse and similar material comprises a drivable rotating roller for compacting the material inside a receiver vessel. The roller is capable of moving in an essentially horizontal direction about an essentially vertical shaft. The vertical shaft is movable in a direction between the bottom of the vessel and its upper part by means of a lifting device comprising a gear-rack engaged by a pinion.

    [0003] In US-A-4,426,925 is disclosed an equipment for compacting trash in upwardly open containers comprising a compacting roll moving to-and-fro on the trash in the container. The roll is rotatably supported from the free end of a pivot arm mounted in articulating manner to a post and of which the telescoped length is adjustable.

    [0004] In SE-B-399,208 is disclosed an apparatus for compacting goods like trash in a container comprising a plunger movable upwards and downwards in a container by means of a driving mechanism.

    [0005] Previously disclosed in, for example, European Patents 0 106 268 and 0 315 674 are compactors with a compaction roller pivotally mounted about a vertical central shaft, in conjunction with which said roller runs on the same path and leaves an area free of compaction, i.e. beneath the central shaft and peripherally around the path of the roller.

    [0006] A problem associated with compacting plants of the kind referred to above is the need to be able to achieve even compaction along essentially the whole of the material accommodating space of a vessel, and to be able to support a compaction roller by simple, yet effective and reliable means.

    [0007] In addition, the supports for the roller in these previously disclosed compactors are unnecessarily complex and temperamental in use, for example arms capable of being transported on carriages in upright guide tracks, with the result that large spaces are required in the area above the material receiver vessel.

    [0008] The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first place, to enable at least one of the problems and disadvantages referred to above to be solved by simple and efficient means.

    [0009] Said object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that the vertical, preferably rotating shaft is supported in such a way that it is free to move laterally by a pivot arm arrangement, which is formed by pairs of arms which are arranged at a mutual distance from one another.

    [0010] The invention is described below as a number of preferred illustrative examples, in conjunction with which reference is made to the drawings, in which

    Fig. 1 shows a first illustrative embodiment of a compacting plant;

    Fig. 2 shows the arm arrangement;

    Fig. 3 shows a section along the line III-III in Fig. 2;

    Figs. 4-5 show a second illustrative embodiment of a plant viewed from the side and in elevation;

    Figs. 6-8 show a section along the lines VI-VI, VII-VII and VIII-VIII in Fig. 4;

    Figs. 9 and 10 show different forms of plants;

    Fig. 11 shows a third illustrative example of a plant;

    Fig. 12 shows a detail adapted for the plant in Fig. 11; and

    Fig. 13 shows a last embodiment of the plant (not part of the invention as claimed).



    [0011] An arrangement 1 for use in a compacting plant 2 intended for refuse T or similar material which comprises at least one drivable rotating roller 32 for compacting the material inside a receiver vessel 4 in an essentially horizontal direction, in conjunction with which the roller 32 is capable of moving about an essentially vertical shaft 5, preferably driven in a rotary fashion so that the material is compacted by the roller 32, which roller is so arranged as to be supported enabling it to be moved in a 30 vertical direction 6, 7 between the bottom 8 of the vessel and its upper part 9, in conjunction with which said vertical rotating shaft 5 is supported so as to be capable of lateral displacement.

    [0012] As an alternative or as a complement (not part of the invention as claimed), said vertical, preferably rotating shaft 54 can be supported telescopically as shown in Fig. 13 (not part of the invention as claimed), by a telescope 150.

    [0013] In accordance with the first illustrative example of the invention, which is shown in Figs. 1-2 in the drawings, the vertical, preferably rotating shaft 5, which supports a roller support arm 10 extending laterally and preferably obliquely downwards towards the outside 4A of the vessel, is supported by a pivot arm arrangement 11. Said pivot arm arrangement 11 is formed preferably by pairs of arms 12, 13, which can be divided laterally into double arm parts 12, 12B; 13A, 13B situated at a mutual distance X and displaced laterally from one another. Said pairs of arms 12, 13 are preferably arranged in parallel, with one arm 12 positioned at a level higher than the other arm 13 and above same at a mutual distance Y from one another, in the form of so-called parallel tie rods, which arms 12, 13 are connected to one another.

    [0014] Said connection 14 is formed in that the arms 12, 13 are pivotally connected, when viewed in the vertical sense, to a pivot shaft attachment 15 and to a support point 16 for the toned roller arrangement 17, via a parallel link 18 and swivel joints 19, 20, 21, 22.

    [0015] An upward-projecting frame upright 24 included in the plant 2, for example attached to a base frame 23, or a fixed attachment to the wall of a refuse room or the like, for example, can serve as the support point for the arms 12, 13 with the roller 3.

    [0016] A jack 25 or some other means of transmitting force is so arranged as to be capable of actuating said pivot arms 12, 13, in conjunction with which the preferably hydraulically driven piston cylinder arrangement 25 acts between the swivel joint attachment 26 on one arm 13 and a swivel joint 27 in a fixed position, for example on the frame upright 24 or a wall.

    [0017] The illustrative embodiment of a compacting plant 21 and an arrangement 11, as shown in Figs. 4-8, differs from the previous example primarily through the design of the lifting arms 121, 131. These are executed bent or curved and formed like a fork at one end with pairs of side arm parts 12A1, 12B1; 13A1, 13B1, between which a hydraulically acting swivel 28 is accommodated for the purpose of supporting and driving the arm 10 and the roller arrangement 17 in the event of the arrangement being designed to exhibit a roller capable of rotating about the vertical shaft. Extending between each of the pairs of side arm parts 12A1, 12B1; 13A1, 13B1 is a shaft 51, 52, which is attached so as to form swivel joints for the parallel links 18, which hold the arms 121, 131 parallel with one another.

    [0018] The attachments 15, 29 for the swivel 28 are also attached to the links 18.

    [0019] The roller arrangement 17 is supported via a supporting plate 30 at the lower end 10A of the roller support arm 10, which is preferably inclined at an angle downwards and outwards from the rotating shaft 5, whilst the shaft 5 is attached to the upper end 10B of the arm via screwed connections 31, etc.

    [0020] The compacting roller 32 can be divided, in conjunction with which one cylindrical part 32A of the roller is passed over a further cylindrical part 32B of the roller. One 32A of the two roller parts 32A, 32B can exhibit a number of shredding teeth 33 or other compaction/pressure/tearing devices, whilst the other part 32B of the roller, which is attached to the support plate 30, for example by welding, can form a bearing support for the roller part 32A.

    [0021] Accommodated internally in the roller 32 is a preferably hydraulic drive motor 34, which is supported by an end plate 35 on the inner part 32B of the roller and is connected with the drive shaft 36 to an internal partition wall 37 in the outer part 32A of the roller.

    [0022] Hydraulic fluid is transferred via the swivel 28, the arm 10 and the plate 30 to the motor 34 for the purpose of driving the roller 32 and compacting the material T in the vessel 4 as the arm 10 is caused to pivot with the help of and about the shaft 5. As the quantity of material T increases in the vessel 4, which may consist of a sturdy plastic or metal vessel, for example with wheels 360, or a sack accommodated in a sack support during filling of the material and compacting of same, although this is not shown in the drawings, the roller arrangement 17 is appropriately raised through the effect of the jack 25 until the vessel 4 is filled with finally compacted material T. The arms 12, 13; 121, 131 are caused to pivot for this purpose along corresponding pivot paths 37, 38; 371, 381. This causes the roller 32 to change position in the vessel 4 when viewed from the side, in conjunction with which the roller 32 compacts the material T along a path other than the previous path at a different compaction level, i.e. along a circular path, the central axis of which is displaced laterally 39, 40, first in one direction 39 and then in the other direction 40, i.e. the direction changes once the pivot paths of the pivot arms have crossed one another at a point 41. Compaction of the material T thus takes place over a larger area than in previously disclosed refuse compactors.

    [0023] The design of the lifting arms 121, 131 with an angled central part 53, 54 means that the total pivot height for the arms 121, 131 can be kept low, and that the total height is thus small, even with the arms 121, 131 pivoted fully upwards when replacing the vessel 4, which is advantageous in refuse rooms with a low ceiling height.

    [0024] Side supports 55, 56 for the vessel 4 may be provided, for example in the form of struts, and may be attached to a frame 231. The vessel 4 is introduced between the supports 55, 56 and is held in position by them during compaction.

    [0025] A receiving arrangement 42, 421, for example of the funnel type, may be connected to the upper material opening 43 of the vessel, in conjunction with which a slot 44 to accommodate the roller lift arms 12, 13; 121, 131 is situated in it, for example as shown in Fig. 5.

    [0026] Fig. 10 shows a top view of a plant 22 of circular vessel form, i.e. sacks 42 made of a plastic material, for example, are so arranged as to be capable of being accommodated inside an outer layer 57 of hard material, in conjunction with which said outer layer can be parted at an opening 58 and can be swung out of the way about swivel joints 59, 60 to permit the sack 42 to be replaced.

    [0027] Fig. 9 shows a top view of a plant 21 with square container walls 41, which may be tippable by means of the lifting gear on the refuse collection vehicle.

    [0028] Fig. 11 shows a variant of the plant 23 with a vessel in the form of, for example, an upwardly open container 43. A support arrangement in the form of, for example, uprights 101 or other raised elements 1013 with tracks 102, 1023 can be arranged along one long side 100 of said container and can be attached, for example, to a support 103 capable of being positioned beneath the container 43. It is possible in this way for the vertical shaft 53, which at its lower end supports a transverse driveable compaction roller 104, to be supported in such a way as to be capable of being displaced and, should the occasion arise, as to be capable of being caused to rotate along the material receiving vessel about said vertical shaft 53.

    [0029] The vertical shaft 53 is supported by a pivot arm arrangement 113, which is connected to a carrier 105, 1053 capable of moving along a path, preferably a carriage attached to tracks 102, 1023 extending along the vessel 43. This compaction roller 104 can thus be driven in the longitudinal sense of the container along the path when the arms 123, 133 are supported by the carriage/carriages 105, 1053 and caused to move along said tracks 102, 1023, with the rotating effect of the roller 104 both about the vertical axis 53 in the direction 106, 107 and about a horizontal axis of rotation 108.

    [0030] Lifting of the arms 123, 133 and the roller 104 can also be achieved by means of a jack 253, as in previous examples.

    [0031] The driving effect of the roller 104 from the outside of the container can also take place, for example, by means of a toothed rail or some other driving means running along the track.

    [0032] Finally, Fig. 13 (not part of the invention as claimed) shows a variant of an arrangement 24 (not part of the invention as claimed) in which the vertical and preferably pivotable shaft 54, which supports a supporting arm 10 extending laterally towards the outside of the vessel, is supported by a portal superstructure 151 extending over the upper part of a moving material receiving vessel 44 via a number of suspended lifting arms 152, 153, 154 capable of being accommodated lengthwise along-side one another.

    [0033] The lifting arms can be formed from sleeves capable of telescoping into one another and with internally accommodated hydraulic lines, etc., for the supply of the fluid for driving the roller.


    Claims

    1. Arrangement (1; 11) for a compacting plant for refuse and similar material, which comprises a driveable rotating roller (32; 104) for compacting the material inside a receiver vessel (4; 42; 43) and capable of moving in an essentially horizontal direction about an essentially vertical shaft (5; 53), preferably driven in a rotary fashion, which roller can be supported enabling it to be moved in a direction between the bottom of the vessel and its upper part, characterized in that the vertical, preferably rotating shaft is supported in such a way that it is free to move laterally (39, 40) by a pivot arm arrangement (11; 113), which is formed by pairs of arms (12, 13; 121, 131; 123, 133) which are arranged at a mutual distance (Y) from one another.
     
    2. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the vertical shaft (5), which supports a roller support arm (10) extending laterally towards the outside (4A) of the vessel, is supported by a pivot arm arrangement (11), which is formed by pairs of arms (12, 13) arranged in parallel at a mutual distance (Y) from one another, in the form of so-called parallel tie rods.
     
    3. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the Patent Claims 1-2, characterized in that the arms (12, 13) are pivotally connected, when viewed in the vertical sense, to a pivot shaft attachment (19-22) and to a support point (16) for the formed roller arrangement (17).
     
    4. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 3, characterized in that a frame upright (24) or a fixed attachment, such as a wall, can serve as the support point.
     
    5. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the vertical shaft (53), which at its lower end supports a transverse compaction roller (104), is supported in such a way as to be capable of being displaced along the material receiving vessel (43) (Fig. 11).
     
    6. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 5, characterized in that the pivot arm arrangement (113) is connected to a carrier (105) capable of moving along a path, preferably a carriage attached to channels (102) extending along the vessel.
     
    7. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the above Patent Claims, characterized in that a jack (25; 253) or some other means of transmitting force is so arranged as to be capable of actuating said pivot arm (13, 133).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Anordnung (1; 11) für eine Verdichtungseinrichtung für Abfall und ähnliches Material, die eine antreibbare, sich drehende Walze (32; 104) zur Verdichtung des Materials innerhalb eines Aufnahmebehältnisses (4; 42; 43) aufweist und zur Bewegung in einer im wesentlichen horizontalen Richtung um eine in wesentlichen vertikale, vorzugsweise zu einer Drehung antreibbaren Welle (5; 53) eingerichtet ist, wobei die Walze so gehalten wird, daß sie in einer Richtung zwischen dem Boden des Behältnisses und dessen oberen Teil bewegt werden kann, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die vertikale, vorzugsweise sich drehende Welle so gehalten wird, daß sie sich mittels einer Schwenkarmanordnung (11; 113), die durch Paare von Armen (12, 13; 121, 131: 123, 133) gebildet ist, die in einem gegenseitigen Abstand (Y) voneinander angeordnet sind, seitlich (39, 40) bewegen kann.
     
    2. Anordnung gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die vertikale Welle (5), die einen sich zu der Außenseite (4A) des Behältnisses erstreckenden Walzenhaltearm (10) hält, durch eine Schwenkarmanordnung (11) gehalten wird, die durch Paare von Armen (12, 13) gebildet wird, die parallel in einem gegenseitigen Abstand (Y) voneinander in der Gestalt von sogenannten parallelen Spurstangen angeordnet sind.
     
    3. Anordnung gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Arme (12, 13) mit Ansicht in vertikaler Richtung schwenkbar an einer Scbwenkwellenbefestigung (19-22) und an einem Haltebereich (16) für die ausgebildete Walzenanordnung (17) angebracht sind.
     
    4. Anordnung gemäß Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein aufrechter Rahmen (24) oder eine fixierte Befestigung wie eine Wand als Haltebereich dient.
     
    5. Anordnung gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die vertikale Welle (53), die an ihrem unteren Ende eine sich quer erstreckende Verdichterwalze (104) hält, so gehalten wird, daß sie entlang des materialaufnehmenden Behältnisses (43) bewegbar ist (Fig. 11).
     
    6. Anordnung gemäß Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Schwenkarmanordnung (113) an einem Träger (105) angebracht ist, der entlang eines Wegs bewegbar ist, vorzugsweise an einem an sich entlang des Behältnisses erstreckenden Führungen (102) angebrachten Wagen.
     
    7. Anordnung gemäß einem oder mehreren der voranstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Arbeitszylinder (25; 253) oder ein anderes Mittel zur Kraftübertragung zur Betätigung des Schwenkarms (13, 133) eingerichtet ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Aménagement (1 ; 11) pour une installation de compactage de déchets ou de matériaux analogues, qui comprend un rouleau rotatif actionnable (32 ; 104) servant à compacter la matière à l'intérieur d'une cuve réceptrice (4 ; 42 ; 43) et étant capable de se déplacer dans une direction essentiellement horizontale autour d'un arbre essentiellement vertical (5 ; 53), entraîné de préférence en rotation, lequel rouleau peut être supporté de façon à pouvoir se déplacer dans une direction s'étendant entre le fond de la cuve et sa partie supérieure, caractérisé en ce que l'arbre vertical, de préférence rotatif, est supporté de façon à être libre de se déplacer dans la direction latérale (39 ; 40) par un aménagement de bras pivotant (11 ; 113) , qui est constitué d'une paire de bras (12, 13 ; 121, 131 ; 123, 133) disposés à une distance (Y) l'un de l'autre.
     
    2. Aménagement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'arbre vertical (5), qui supporte un bras de support de rouleau (10) s'étendant dans la direction latérale vers l'extérieur (4A) de la cuve, est supporté par un aménagement de bras pivotant (11), qui est constitué d'une paire de bras (12, 13) disposés parallèlement, à une distance (Y) l'un de l'autre, sous la forme de ce qu'on appelle un tirant parallèle.
     
    3. Aménagement selon l'une ou l'autre des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que les bras (12, 13) sont raccordés en pivotement, lorsqu'on les regarde dans le sens vertical, à une attache d'arbre vertical (19-22) et à un point de support (16) pour l'aménagement de rouleau formé (17).
     
    4. Aménagement selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce qu'un montant de structure (24) ou un moyen d'attache fixe, tel qu'une paroi, peut servir de point de support.
     
    5. Aménagement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'arbre vertical (53), qui supporte un rouleau de compactage transversal (104) à son extrémité inférieure, est supporté de façon à pouvoir être déplacé le long de la cuve réceptrice de matière (43) (figure 11).
     
    6. Aménagement selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que l'aménagement de bras pivotant (113) est raccordé à un chariot (105) pouvant se déplacer le long d'un chemin, de préférence un chariot attaché à des canaux (102) s'étendant le long de la cuve.
     
    7. Aménagement selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'un vérin (25 ; 253) ou un autre moyen de transmission de force est aménagé de façon à pouvoir actionner ledit arbre pivotant (13, 133).
     




    Drawing